Top Goal Scorers At 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia With 64/64 Matches Played

GhanaSky.com analyst presents Top Goal Scorers of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia as at 64/64 Matches Played. This is the total statistics so far according to Fédération Internationale de Football Association (International Federation of Association Football) source with FIFA World Cup Russia tournament statistics total of 169 goals scored, 219 Yellow cards, 4 Red Cards and 49651 Passes Completed.

1) Harry KANE Profile:

Captain Harry Kane is England’s undoubted talisman, leader and key player. The prolific Tottenham Hotspur man is a forward who can score all types of goals: with both feet, his head, from distance or from inside the six yard box – he has consistently found the net for club and country since bursting into the Spurs first team in the 2014-15 campaign, winning the English Premier League Golden Boot in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

To say then that England are reliant on Kane is a vast understatement. He played a pivotal role on the road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, scoring winning goals against Slovenia and Lithuania and a late equaliser against Scotland – those three goals alone accounting for seven qualifying points. Kane will be looking to carry that influence into the finals themselves, and step up to the next level of superstardom by shining at a World Cup.

Harry KANE Footballer Details Below:

2) Antoine GRIEZMANN Profile:

Antoine Griezmann no longer needs any introduction. Since being nominated as one of three finalists for The Best FIFA Men's Player Award for 2016, the forward has remained consistently effective, as proved by his goal and assist numbers with both Atletico Madrid and France this term.

Not the most powerful player at 5'9'', the Macon native makes up for any frailty with his speed, vision, dribbling acumen and eye for goal, while his left foot can be deadly from set-pieces. For France, he has become a core member of the team, whether on the left up front in a 4-3-3 formation or the second striker in a 4-2-3-1. In either role, Grizou is a vital asset, having often proved decisive for Les Bleus on the road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

Antoine GRIEZMANN Footballer Details Below:

3) Romelu LUKAKU Profile:

The question of who is Belgium’s first-choice striker is one that was posed for several seasons but which finally seems to have found a definitive answer. After top-scoring in the Belgian league at the age of 16 with Anderlecht, Romelu Lukaku has continued to ply his trade to good effect in the English Premier League with West Bromwich Albion, Everton and now Manchester United.
“Big Rom” has power and pace to go with his goalscoring touch, and made an early impact in his international career, scoring twice in a friendly against Russia as a mere 17-year-old. Now the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of Les Diables Rouges, Lukaku has won the football world over with his impressive statistics and drive and determination. A scorer against USA at Brazil 2014, the frontman heads to Russia 2018 in fine form, having struck 11 goals in the qualifiers.

Romelu LUKAKU Footballer Details Below:

4) Denis CHERYSHEV Profile:

Son of former striker Dmitry Cheryshev, Denis moved to Spain aged six with his father, who had just signed for Sporting Gijon. Denis himself started out at Sporting before following his dad to Burgos CF and eventually getting a chance at Real Madrid’s academy.

Denis rose through the ranks in Madrid, having a particularly successful stint in the ‘B’ team, Real Madrid Castilla. His performances were such that in November 2012, he became the first Russian player to play for Los Merengues in a competitive fixture.

Persistent injuries prevented the winger from nailing down a starting role at the Spanish giants, so he went on loan in search of playing time at Sevilla, Villarreal and then Valencia. In summer 2016, Villarreal decided to bring him back on a permanent basis.

Cheryshev’s debut for Russia came in November 2012 against USA. His experience of playing in one of the strongest leagues in the world will no doubt come in useful for the Sbornaya this summer.

Denis CHERYSHEV Footballer Details Below:

5) Cristiano RONALDO Profile:

The Real Madrid forward is Portugal’s captain, most capped player and leading all-time goalscorer. Still supremely fit and as committed as ever, he is more of a penalty box operator these days, having lost none of his scoring touch or his gift for breaking records.

A formidable dribbler and a considerable aerial threat, Ronaldo is noted for his power, speed and instinct, qualities that have seen him named as the world’s best player on five occasions by FIFA. The most special of all the many honours he has won, however, is UEFA EURO 2016, his country’s first major trophy, which he had the honour of raising as skipper. The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia will be his fourth world finals appearance.

Cristiano RONALDO Footballer Details Below:

6) Kylian MBAPPE Profile:

Befitting his status as the symbol of a new era for French football, Kylian Mbappe was the first player called up by France to be born after their 1998 FIFA World Cup win. The forward was already making waves and being showered with plaudits when he got the call, thanks in large part to his superb UEFA Champions League performances for Monaco.

Far from letting the praise go to his head, the thrilling young prodigy continued his rise by joining Paris Saint-Germain, where his statistics have again been remarkable. He has also emerged as an important player for Les Bleus, notching his maiden strike on his fifth appearance, a crucial 4-0 victory against the Netherlands on the road to Russia 2018.

Thanks to his extraordinary bursts of speed, his unpredictability and his intelligence on the pitch, Mbappe is already considered one of world football's finest players, and he will be anxious to underline his standing in Russia.

Universal Time (GMT) is +00 But Local Schedule Timezone is +03 Russia.

Universal Time (GMT) is +00 But Europe/London Schedule Time is +01.

No UTC/GMT Offset For Ghana, Accra is 3 hours behind Moscow/Russia.

Russia, the world’s largest nation, population of 144.3 million with it's capital Moscow, borders European and Asian countries as well as the Pacific and Arctic oceans. Its landscape ranges from tundra and forests to subtropical beaches. It’s famous for Moscow's Bolshoi and St. Petersburg's Mariinsky ballet companies.

Uruguay vs France - Friday, July 6, 2018 - 17:00 Local Time

France qualified for the quarter-finals with a 4-3 win over Argentina in the Round of 16, on overtaken hundred meter race performance from 19-year-old energetic Kylian Mbappe.
Uruguay also booked their place with 2-1 win over Portugal, courtesy two goals from striker Edinson Cavani. That result meant Messi’s great rival, Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo, will also likely end his career without winning a World Cup.
Therefore, France and Uruguay will face each other in Quarter-finals of Russia FIFA World Cup 2018 on Friday, 06 Jul 2018 - 17:00 Local time, at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Russia.

Brazil vs Belgium - Friday, July 6, 2018 - 21:00 Local Time

Tournament favourites Brazil earned their quarter-final berth with a 2-0 win over Mexico, with star striker Neymar scoring the first goal and helping set up the second.
The winner of Uruguay vs France will play the winner of Brazil vs Belgium in the first semi-final on Tuesday, July 10.

Sweden vs England - Saturday, July 7, 2018 - 18:00 Local Time

Sweden needed a deflected shot from striker Emil Forsberg to get a 1-0 win over Switzerland in a scrappy Round of 16 match earlier Tuesday.
England secured their quarter-final spot following their penalty shootout victory over Colombia on Tuesday afternoon. England took the lead via captain and star striker Harry Kane, only for Colombia to equalize in the dying seconds of the game thanks to a header from defender Yerry Mina.
The two teams couldn’t be separated after 30 minutes of extra-time, taking the match to penalty kicks., with England prevailing.
Kane’s goal was his sixth in the World Cup, making him the favourite to end the tournament as top-scorer. Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku trails him on four goals.

Russia vs Croatia - Saturday, July 7, 2018 - 21:00 Local Time

Tournament hosts Russia were widely considered one of the weakest World Cup hosts in recent decades, making their Round of 16 victory over a strong Spain side one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. That game, too, was tied 1-1 before Russia went on to win in a penalty kick shootout.
Croatia also needed a penalty kick shootout to defeat their Round of 16 opponents, Denmark.
Croatia captain Luka Modric missed a golden opportunity to win the match for his side, seeing his penalty kick saved towards the end of the regulation 90 minutes with the score tied at 1-1. The match then eventually went to a penalty shootout, with Modric this time managing to bury his penalty kick.
The winner of Sweden vs England will play the winner of Russia vs Croatia in the second semi-final on Wednesday, July 11.

The FIFA World Cup 2018 will take place from June 14 to July 15, 2018.

A total of 32 teams will be competing for the coveted trophy

Hosts Russia take on Saudi Arabia in the opener on Thursday

FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia will see 32 nations competing for the coveted trophy. Each team has fielded a 23-man squad for the quadrennial event. The tournament starts from June 14 and will continue till July 15.

Kane opened scoring only for Mina to equalise in stoppage time

England will play Sweden in quarter-final on 7 July in Samara

England set up quarter-final clash with Sweden

Sweden earlier beat Switzerland 1-0 in their last 16 game to advance

MOSCOW: England finally ended their penalties curse when they beat Colombia 4-3 in a shootout after drawing their World Cup last-16 clash 1-1 following extra time after the South Americans equalised in the 93rd minute.

England had previously lost all three World Cup shootouts and three of four in the European Championship but prevailed on Tuesday when Mateus Uribe and Carlos Bacca failed to convert, leaving Eric Dier to win the game for England

It was the first time Colombia had been involved in a World Cup shootout and they took first blood when Jordan Henderson missed his spot kick - but for once fortune smiled on England.

Earlier Harry Kane smashed in a 57th-minute penalty, his sixth goal of the tournament, and England looked to be through until Yerry Mina headed an equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time.

It was England's first win in a knockout game since 2006 and earns them a quarter-final with Sweden, who were far from impressive in beating Switzerland 1-0 earlier on Tuesday.

Then comes a potential semi-final against hosts Russia or Croatia with Tuesday's win appearing to vindicate - just - coach Gareth Southgate's decision to field a second-string side in the the final group game loss to Belgium to secure an easier route.

Colombia's hopes suffered a huge setback before kickoff when key playmaker James Rodriguez was ruled out with a calf injury and without him they took a defensive approach and never rarely threatened.

England were always the more purposeful side but they lacked the key final ball and needed a gift to take the lead.

The South Americans had been getting away with blatant holding and wrestling at each of England's many corners and the referee's patience finally snapped when Carlos Sanchez hauled down tournament leading scorer Kane once too often.

After four minutes of mayhem as the Colombians protested, Kane kept his cool and smashed in his third spot kick of Russia 2018.

When Juan Cuadrado blazed horribly over the bar with the goal gaping 10 minutes from time with Colombia's first chance of the match it looked all over for them but there was a fiery sting in the tail of normal time.

England keeper Jordan Pickford made a superb save to touch wide a furious long shot by Uribe but from the following corner - Colombia's first of the match - giant defender Mina rose highest to head in the equaliser and send the massed Colombian fans into a frenzy.

England substitute Dier missed the best chance of the extra period when he headed over the bar but he made up for it in emphatic fashion with the winning penalty in the shootout.

A deflected shot from Emil Forsberg gave Sweden a 1-0 victory over Switzerland

Switzerland had the lion's share of possession but were toothless in attack

Sweden will face England in the quarter-finals

ST PETERSBURG: A deflected shot from Emil Forsberg gave Sweden a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in a dull World Cup round of 16 match in St Petersburg on Tuesday, sending the Swedes through to a quarter-final against England.

Switzerland had the lion's share of possession but were toothless in attack, and bowed out in dispiriting fashion after registering four shots on target over 90 minutes, none of which unduly tested Robin Olsen in the Swedish goal.

Boos and whistles rang around the St Petersburg stadium as early as the 25th minute, with both Swedish and Swiss fans alike left irate by the lack of quality and attacking verve on display.

The teams went into the interval locked in a goalless stalemate, with Sweden just about shading their opponents in terms of the quality of the few clear chances created.

Marcus Berg forced a fine save from Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer in the 27th minute, and Albin Ekdal squandered an excellent chance when he volleyed over the bar from 12 metres out after getting on the end of a cross from Mikael Lustig.

At the other end, Blerim Dzemaili wasted Switzerland's best chance when he fired over from 12 metres, while Xherdan Shaqiri had a terrible day at the office, sending several diagonal balls from the wing sailing over the heads of his team mates.

The second half started in a similarly stultifying manner, with play bogged down in midfield and both sides looking to be inching inevitably towards extra time and a penalty shootout until Forsberg struck in the 66th minute to inject a flicker of life into the contest.

Picking up a pass on the edge of the penalty area, the RB Leipzig midfielder shifted the ball to his right foot and struck a low shot that deflected off Swiss defender Manuel Akanji's foot and past the wrong-footed keeper.

Switzerland came to life after the goal but Sweden defended stoutly and looked threatening on the counter-attack.

They broke through the Swiss cordon in extra time when the substitute Martin Olsson was released into space and brought down just outside the box.

The referee first awarded a penalty but then changed his mind after consulting the video assistant referee (VAR) to award a free kick, but Sommer saved Ola Toivonen's effort.

Belgium fought back from two goals down to beat Japan 3-2 with an added-time goal from substitute Nacer Chadli

Belgium became the first side to recover from a two-goal deficit to win a World Cup knockout match since Germany beat England 3-2 in 1970

Belgium set up a quarter-final with Brazil

ROSTOV-ON-DON (Russia): Belgium threw caution to the wind to reach the World Cup quarter-finals as substitute Nacer Chadli scored in the dying seconds against Japan to snatch a 3-2 comeback win on Monday and set up a clash with five-time champions Brazil.

The distraught Japanese, who went 2-0 up with goals by Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui early in the second half, fell to the turf after Chadli poked the ball home from Thomas Meunier's cross four minutes into added time at the Rostov Arena.

Belgium, who had taken a conservative approach to the game, got back into contention with late goals by Jan Vertonghen and substitute Marouane Fellaini before Chadli struck.

"That's what happens in the World Cup. It was a test of character and a test of the team. It tells you everything about this group of players," said Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.

One of the most exciting teams of the group phase, Belgium faced an embarrassing exit but finally clicked to become the first team to win a World Cup knockout game from two goals down since West Germany beat England 3-2 after extra time in 1970.

Belgium's 'golden generation' have now scored 12 goals in four games in Russia ahead of a mouthwatering last eight clash with Brazil who beat Mexico 2-0 earlier on Monday.

With centre back Vincent Kompany back in the lineup for the first time since picking a groin strain in a warm-up game, Belgium had looked safe at the back but uninspired up front.

Both teams fought a tight midfield battle but their forwards froze in the area and Belgium's wide players, Meunier and Yannick Carrasco, did not take risks going forward, effectively turning a 3-4-3 formation into a more conservative 5-2-3 system.

Japan got closest to a goal in a dull first half when Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois let the ball slip from his hands and between his legs but recovered before it crossed the line.

The Japanese were ahead soon after the break, though, when Haraguchi beat the offside trap and ran into the area to beat Courtois with a cross-shot in the 48th minute.

Belgium responded but Hazard's shot rattled the post and Japan doubled their tally in the 52nd when Inui picked up the ball 25 metres out and fired a missile into the back of the net.

The Red Devils were still struggling but they pulled a goal back after 69 minutes when Vertonghen looped a header from a high clearance back across goal into the far top corner.

The momentum had shifted and in the 74th, Eden Hazard's cross was met by Fellaini, who equalised from close range with a powerful header.

Belgium continued to push forward and both Chadli and Lukaku forced Japan keeper Eiji Kawashima into a couple of spectacular saves with powerful headers four minutes from full time.

In stoppage time, Keisuke Honda's 30-metre free-kick was parried away by Courtois. The keeper then launched the ball to Kevin De Bruyne, who made a beeline through the field before finding Meunier, whose cross was met by Chadli for the winner.

Brazil roared in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Monday as Neymar shone with a goal and an assist that dumped the central Americans out at the last-16 stage for the seventh straight occasion.

The PSG forward slid home in the second half and then teed up Roberto Firmino late on as the five-time champions beat an otherwise stubborn Mexico, whose World Cup began with such promise with a victory over champions Germany but ended in familiar fashion in the first knockout round.

It was the seventh World Cup running that Brazil have reached the last eight, where they will now face Belgium or Japan, while Mexico have not made it to that stage since they hosted the tournament in 1986.

Mexico, who enjoyed an enviable recent record against Brazil having won seven of their previous 15 matches against them, were a threat on the counter in the first half but then faded without ever really being put to the sword.

A glaring spotlight had been on Neymar after his opening three performances saw him miss a litany of chances, frequently squander possession and spend far too long on the turf.

Yet he answered a number of questions with a much more positive display and a decisive finish early in the second half from a move that he had started himself, although his propensity for histrionics were again in evidence.

Minutes after the restart Brazil took the lead in exquisite fashion with Neymar starting and ending the move.

He darted across the edge of the area before a perfect backheel released Willian, whose low cross fizzed into the danger area where Neymar slid in to turn the ball home.

It was a choking blow for Mexico, who had been the better side for the opening half an hour, pegging Brazil back and creating several half chances.

Brazil had to wait until the 88th minute to put the match to bed as Neymar was the architect, crossing for Firmino to tap the ball home.

They will have to do without defensive midfielder Casemiro in the quarters, however, after he picked up his second booking.

Croatia equalise in fourth minute after Danish first-minute goal

Croatia to face hosts Russia in quarter-finals

According to GhanaSky.com analyst, this is the second time in July 1, 2018 FIFA Matches, a penalty shoot-out will decide who progresses to the quarter-finals. Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel will certainly be confident after dramatically saving Luka Modric's penalty with four minutes of extra time remaining.

In extra time Denmark relied heavily on that defensive organisation that served them so well throughout the tournament. Both sides didn't look like there was any strength left to try attacking moves during extra time. And when Hareide's men needed it most, Kasper Schmeichel showed all his class to preserve the Danish chances in the penalty shoot-out.

Agony and ecstasy:

Nothing brings out emotional extremes like a penalty shoot-out as these pictures prove.

Gaolkeepers to the fore:

Five penalties were saved by Danijel Subasic and Kasper Schmeichel during the shoot-out, with the latter also saving one in the final minutes of extra time.

Subasic the hero:

Croatia win 3-2 on penalties after Danijel Subasic saved three spot-kicks, including the opener from Christian Eriksen. Subasic equals the World Cup record for most saves in a shoot-out, equaling the mark set by Portugal's Ricardo against England in 2006.

Danijel Subašić is a Croatian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for AS Monaco and the Croatia national team.

A new record:

Confirmation that Mario Mandzukic's equaliser was the earliest that both teams have scored in a FIFA World Cup. His goal tonight came at 3 mins 39 secs, eclipsing the equaliser scored by Ahmed Musa for Nigeria against Argentina at 3.52 in 2014.

Mario Mandžukić is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Italian club Juventus and the Croatia national team. Besides being a prolific goalscorer, he is known for his defensive contribution and aerial power.

In a match where Spain enjoyed 79 per cent of possession, not even the positive impact of another stand-out performance from Isco could break down the Russia defence to give Spain the easy win many had predicted.

Two saves from Igor Akinfeev in the penalty shoot-out gave the hosts the 4-3 win.

The match still started well for Spain. Russia seemed overwhelmed by the occasion for the first time this tournament, in this their first knock-out stage match at a World Cup since Mexico 1986.

The first goal highlighted this quality discrepancy early on, as abysmal Russia defending gave Spain the lead. Sergei Ignashevich seemed more concerned by bulldozing Sergio Ramos down in the six-yard box than defending the Spain corner, and with his back to the ball accidentally clipped it over the line to put Russia behind in the 11th minute.
Spain's Sergio Ramos was fouled by Russia's Sergei Ignashevich, who directed the ball into his own net.

But some counter-attacking from Russia late in the half gave paid off, as a Russia corner turned into a penalty thanks to Gerard Pique's flailing arm catching the ball in the air.

Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov couldn't even bear to watch, turning his back on the action as the weight of the country's expectations fell on Artem Dzyuba's shoulders.

But you wouldn't have guessed it, as the striker coolly slotted the penalty into the bottom-left corner of the goal in the 41st minute to the delight of the home crowd's booming cheers.

Spain's frustration going into the half-time undoubtedly motivated their much more positive start to the second period - with more purposeful crossing and penetration at goal, but still struggling to create tangible goal-scoring opportunities. Report by Molly McElwee.

Edinson Cavani scored two wonder goals as Uruguay progressed to the quarters at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo and the reigning champions of Europe.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi crash out of World Cup on same day as Edinson Cavani brace stuns Portugal .

Two sumptuous goals from Edinson Cavani set up a tantalising quarter-final meeting with France on Friday on a day when hope of a Messi-Ronaldo showdown in Nizhny Novgorod was vanquished.

Yet this was not quite the fairytale for Cavani that France’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Argentina had proved for his club team-mate, Mbappe, who also scored twice, earlier in the day.

There was only 10 minutes between Cavani scoring Uruguay’s decisive second, after the Portugal defender Pepe had cancelled out his opening goal, and the striker pulling up with a hamstring injury and limping off with a crestfallen look on his face.

Oscar Tabarez, the Uruguay coach, said Cavani would be assessed, but with only six days until they face France, time is against him. “He felt pain,” Tabarez said. “We don’t have a lot of time for recovery but after a rest day we will have a diagnosis. Now we are worried but right now we don’t know how grave this injury is.”

Cavani was helped off the field in a show of great sportsmanship from Ronaldo but this was the closest the Portugal captain got to making an impression on the game. The Real Madrid maestro was a virtual bystander, powerless, like Messi, to prevent his team’s exit, his misery compounded in the closing seconds when he was booked for protesting over a perceived Uruguay foul.

It was actually the only yellow card of a game that, while ferociously fought, didn't descend into the slugfest many anticipated. Whether Ronaldo gets another stab at winning a World Cup in Qatar in four years time, when he will be 37, remains to be seen but Fernando Santos expects him to still be there when qualifying for Euro 2020 begins in September. “Cristiano still has a lot to give, there’s qualifying starting in September and, of course, we hope Cristiano will be with us to help these young players to grow. It’s important to have the captain’s presence there and he’s always there for us.”

Portugal were certainly knocking on Uruguay’s door in the final 20 minutes but it was Bernardo Silva and others, rather than a strangely subdued Ronaldo, who led the fight, only to be repelled time and again by Uruguay’s outstanding defence, which played as big a part in this victory as its electrifying attack. And what an attack, one that will be sadly weakened if Cavani is missing against France.

There have been all manner of arresting goals scored in this tournament but a pair of centre-forwards combining to convert what was effectively a 100-yard one-two provided a new category altogether.

Cavani picked up the ball on Uruguay’s right touchline, about 15 yards past the halfway line, and speared a raking pass over to Suarez on the opposite side. Suarez controlled on his chest and, while Cavani made a dash for the six-yard box, the Barcelona striker cut inside Ricardo and then bent a venomous, humdinger of a cross from the edge of the penalty area over Jose Fonte and the despairing Raphael Guerreiro to Cavani.

Initially, it looked as if Cavani had craned his neck quite superbly to head home from close range. In fact, the ball hit his face and bounced in but the combination play was still something to savour. “There was no scheme against that - it was an incredible play,” Santos said. “Uruguay have never scored like that. We weren’t prepared to control that sort of movement from Cavani and Suarez.”

That was seven minutes in and an early reminder that, for all its pre-match billing as a bruising, cynical encounter between some of the game’s most wily and belligerent individuals, there were plenty of players on show who could play a bit, too.

That is not to say the fine arts were not interspersed with some occasional dark arts. There was some play-acting from Suarez and Pepe, a late poleaxing of Fonte by the uncompromising Martin Caceres and some grizzled old-school defending from the imperious Diego Godin, whose reaction to planting his forehead into the back of Goncalo Guedes’s head was the quickest rub and a shrug of the shoulders. But for the most part it was a game played hard but fair and was all the more engrossing for it.

It was slim pickings for Ronaldo throughout, though. There were shades of the 2009 Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United early on when he kept trying his hand from distance. One sighter was comfortably saved, another charged down and then he bludgeoned a free-kick into a wall, but, as the game wore on, he became increasingly peripheral as Portugal instead looked to Bernardo.

Ronaldo’s one contribution of note was to draw the attention of Godin and his equally brilliant central-defensive partner, Jose Gimenez, away from Pepe and allow his Portugal team-mate the space and opportunity to head home Guerreiro’s corner.

The goal was a frustration for Uruguay but no more. It was pretty much the only time their obdurate, highly-organised backline was breached but there is strength and balance running through this side and, within seven minutes, they were back in front.

The ease with which Rodrigo Bentancur picked up possession after a long punt up field was knocked down will grate with Santos but make no mistake about the quality that followed. Bentancur swept the ball across the edge of the penalty, right to left, and into the path of Cavani, who opened up his body and stroked a sublime first-time finish low into the far corner. It would be Cavani's last contribution. But what a contribution, the kind Ronaldo must have dreamt of.